Posted on 07/12/2004 11:40:19 PM PDT by Pikamax
AP Poll: More Voters See Bush As Decisive
14 minutes ago
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) is viewed by more American voters as decisive and arrogant than Democratic rival John Kerry (news - web sites), according to an Associated Press poll. Voters are more likely to see Kerry as intelligent.
AP Photo
Asked who makes them feel more optimistic about the future, slightly more voters choose Bush than Kerry, the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs found. Both candidates are viewed as wealthy by nearly all voters, with slightly more seeing Bush as wealthy than Kerry.
Two-thirds in the poll think the president is decisive, the biggest character advantage the president has over Kerry in the poll. But a majority, 52 percent, also say they think Bush is arrogant.
"The quality I like about the president is he knows what he wants, and he focuses on what he wants to do. He's not wishy-washy," said Sam Werzberger, a 26-year-old independent from New York City, who hasn't decided for whom he will vote. "I've seen very little of Kerry, but he seems to say what people want to hear."
The poll asked voters whether they would or would not use each of seven words — likable, intelligent, decisive, compassionate, honest, arrogant and wealthy — to describe Bush and then Kerry.
Kerry and Bush are evenly matched on qualities like compassion, honesty and likability. But Bush has a 22-point edge over Kerry on the question of who is decisive. Two-thirds said Bush is decisive and fewer than half said that of Kerry. Only two-thirds of Democrats said Kerry is decisive.
As Kerry prepares to introduce himself to the public at the Democratic National Convention in two weeks, one of his biggest obstacles is convincing voters he can provide the kind of firm leadership needed in a time of war and terrorism.
Bush's confidence and unwillingness to change his stand despite opposition are viewed negatively by some. A majority, 52 percent, said he's arrogant, more than the 44 percent who view Kerry that way.
"I think they both kind of come off as arrogant," said Becky Robertson, a 31-year-old independent from Radcliffe, Ky. "That's a typical political thing."
The Bush re-election team spent more than $80 million during the spring trying to portray Kerry as a flip-flopper and a tax raiser. While the president has been unable to gain a lead in the race against Kerry, his campaign succeeded in raising doubts about Kerry's willingness to take a stand.
Kerry played a role in that perception after voting to authorize the war in Iraq (news - web sites), then struggling to explain his views on war when it was clear many Democratic voters in the primaries were opposed.
Four in five voters, 83 percent, say Kerry is intelligent, compared with 63 percent who view Bush as intelligent.
"I haven't heard much about Kerry, but he seems like a pretty sensible fellow," said Judy Bryson, a 56-year-old independent from Dalton, Ga. "I really like the man he's chosen to run with him as vice president."
Nine in 10 voters view the president as wealthy while nearly as many, 85 percent, see Kerry as wealthy. Both men are multimillionaires, but Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, inherited more than $500 million from her late husband, Republican Sen. John Heinz of Pennsylvania.
Within the last week, Kerry's campaign has been energized by the selection of John Edwards (news - web sites), a senator from North Carolina, to be his running mate. They projected a sunny, optimistic message as they barnstormed through swing states last week.
But when voters were asked which of the candidates makes them feel more optimistic about America, Bush had an edge. Half, 50 percent, chose Bush and 44 percent chose Kerry.
"Since 9/11, there has been no major terrorist attack on this country," said Bob Shea, a 52-year-old independent-leaning Democrat from Westfield, Mass. "So I have to say Bush and his administration have done a reasonable job."
The AP-Ipsos poll of 804 registered voters was taken July 5-7 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
The Bush re-election team spent more than $80 million during the spring trying to portray Kerry as a flip-flopper and a tax raiser.
AP fails to mention the left has spent almost twice as much as Bush in their ads undermining his credibility. March thru June, Bush spent 59 million on ads, Kerry spent 56 million, and soft money pro-Kerry 527 groups like Moveon spent 38 MILLION... almost matching Kerry's official campaign.
President Bush's re-election team had better start getting more ads out, showing Kerry's voting record. I don't think it's sinking in to most Americans, so far. Hammer, hammer, hammer! (Where's Karen Hughes, when you need her?!)
It's not that close to election time just yet. There's no need for Bush to intervene while Kerry is busy wasting all his cash to no effect.
The timing couldn't be better, given the upcoming Demcratic National Convention - deny Stiff & Biff any bounce that usually accompanies such an event.
Lurch and Giggles won't get a bounce from their convention... it'll be a disaster. It's not wise to interfere with your opponent while he is destroying himself... Bush should do nothing to distract from Kerry in the spotlight - it only does our side good to have America have a good look at what Kerry really is.
well duh!
How can 44% say Kerry is more optimistic?? He is nothing but negative.
I think of them as Snort N Tort
Why?
Bush has 4 days in Sept that will be a 4 day GOP love fest to overcome any bounce Kerry gets this month from the Dem convention.
Whoever made the GOP convention in Sept in NY is a freekin hero !
She's joining the team after the convention .. which can't come soon enough for me.
In NY right around Labor Day the GOP Convention will have this:
President Bush going past Times Square in a Limo and a bunch of secret service !
The NY media will be all over this event because it's right down the street !
People's attention will be on the election in Sept !
All this will put the Presidents Real Importance on display and it should be a slam dunk for the GOP and so called Independants !
So, just play 'rope a dope' 'til September? I really think it will backfire (unless Osama BinLaden is a featured 'prisoner' on stage, at the convention!).
"Nine in 10 voters view the president as wealthy while nearly as many, 85 percent, see Kerry as wealthy."
Sorry I can't source it, but I saw figures on T.V. last night that put Bush/Cheney's total net worth at $60 million, while Kerry/Edwards come in at $1.06 billion.
While both are certainly wealthy, shouldn't Bush/Cheney have reached above the billion-dollar mark with all their kickbacks from Haliburton, Big Oil, et al? (sarcasm)
Karen Huges is onboard and has been for several months. The Bush team has won every election they ran. Bush has increased support among minorities, as well.
This is spin, especially the *arrogant* characterization. I counted 2 independants for Bush,one an admitted Dem-leaner and one for Kerry. One independant shrugs off the *arrogant* as being a quality of poiticians. Not that that means all that much, considering they can cherry pick who they interview and what they extract from the interview to print, but the interviews favor Bush.
All in all, that poll was more favorable overall to the POTUS.
poiticians=politicians
This man is getting the longest introduction in history!!! Hasn't he been introducint himself for the past 4 months, and yet they keep saying he needs more introduction, LOL!
This is music to my ears. Thanks for the good news. I like the analogy that Kerry is spending all of his money now. When you think of it, he is doing a lot of things fairly earlier than usual. He chose his VP earlier than anyone thought he would and from what I understand the dems are concerned about keep the energy level high until the convention. Something that may be difficult because he announced the VP choice so early. I think this shows he is desperate to get a bigger bounce prior to the convention.
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